ROBERT BLACKWELL FROM WEALD SENTENCED FOR FATAL CRASH IN WITNEY, OXFORDSHIRE

In April 2015, a tragic incident unfolded in Witney, Oxfordshire, that would leave a community mourning and a young girl’s life forever altered. Robert Blackwell, a 19-year-old from Weald, was found responsible for causing the death of 14-year-old Liberty Baker during a devastating car collision. The events leading up to this heartbreaking outcome revealed a reckless disregard for safety and the devastating consequences of distracted driving.

On the morning of June 30, Blackwell was behind the wheel of his Citroen C2, traveling at a speed significantly above the limit. Witnesses and evidence indicated that he was driving at approximately 44 miles per hour in a zone where the speed limit was only 30 mph. The police investigation uncovered that Blackwell had traces of cannabis in his system at the time of the crash, raising concerns about impaired judgment and reaction times. Additionally, prosecutors highlighted that just before the collision, Blackwell received a text message from his girlfriend on his iPhone, which was described as the primary distraction during his drive.

The collision occurred as Liberty Baker was walking to school, a routine part of her day that was tragically cut short. The impact of the crash was severe, and Blackwell’s vehicle struck Liberty as she crossed the road. The young girl sustained critical injuries and was rushed to hospital, where she succumbed to her wounds later that day. The incident also injured two other 14-year-old girls and a 54-year-old man named Paul Cracknell. Mr. Cracknell suffered serious leg injuries and remains under outpatient care, having only recently been able to return to work on a part-time basis.

Following the crash, Blackwell’s actions and subsequent behavior drew widespread attention. He was observed to have completely failed to negotiate a bend, a failure attributed to possibly being distracted by his phone, as the court heard. After bringing his vehicle to a stop, Blackwell exited the car and expressed remorse, stating, “I am sorry. It’s all my fault. It all happened so fast. I just lost control.” His tearful demeanor as he was taken into custody reflected the gravity of the situation.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who was standing as the Member of Parliament for Witney, publicly extended his condolences to Liberty Baker’s family, emphasizing the community’s shared grief. Blackwell was charged and later pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, according to Thames Valley Police.

At the sentencing hearing, Blackwell appeared visibly upset, tearful as he was led away to the cells, with the courtroom filled with silence. His defense attorney, Claire Fraser, argued that Blackwell denied being distracted by the text message and maintained that the cannabis in his bloodstream did not influence his driving. She also noted that Blackwell had expressed understanding of the consequences, telling a probation officer, “I need to be punished, I understand.”

Blackwell, who resides on Hayway Lane in Weald, was sentenced to four years in prison. Additionally, he received a five-year driving ban. The sentence drew criticism from Liberty Baker’s family, particularly her father, Paul Baker, who, surrounded by family and friends outside the court, expressed his devastation over the relatively short prison term. He stated, “We are devastated at the sentence which has been handed out today. This man’s actions cost my daughter her life and we will have to live with our loss every single day. He is only likely to spend a few years in prison. We will never recover from the cruel and heartbreaking way our beautiful daughter was taken from us. Our lives will never be the same again.”

Judge Ian Pringle described Blackwell’s speed as “grossly excessive,” emphasizing that his actions were reckless and contributed directly to the tragedy. As he sentenced Blackwell, the judge remarked that no words or actions could ease the “everlasting pain and grief of those who have to live with the loss of Liberty.”

Liberty’s younger brother, 11-year-old Finlay Baker, also shared his grief through a heartfelt statement. In a poem read aloud in court by prosecutor Ian Hope, Finlay expressed the pain of losing his sister and the hope that she was now an angel in the sky. His words reflected the deep emotional impact of the loss, with lines such as, “There is a new angel in the sky,” and “If I could have you back just for a while.” The poem concluded with a poignant reflection on the afterlife, revealing the profound effect Liberty’s death had on her family and the community of Weald.